Thread protector and method of



E. R. BROWN ET A1.

THREAD PROTECTOR AND METHOD OF APPLYING THE SAIE THREAD. EROTECTOR Sept. 8, y1931. Re. 118,184

' Original Filed Nov. 2. 192'? INVENTIOR W *QM K (an. sian `Reis$ued Sept. 1931 UNITED STATESl PATENT OFFICE ERNEST B. BROWN AND PORTER S. BROWN, F 'WILKINSBORQ PENNSYLVANIA.

THREAD PROTECTOR riginal No. 1,708,657, datedApril 9,-1929,8exia1 No. 280,489, illed November 2, 192'?.y VApplication for reissue led Iarch 18, 1931.A Serial No. 523,608.

Our invention relates to thread protectors, and particularly tc thread protectors for preserving threads formed on commercial sizes of pipeduring transportation. I

The cutting of threads on pipe after the pipe has been transported to its place of use involves a considerable expense in labor, and frequently results in delay to other work. Accordingly, pipe manufacturers frequently form threads on such pipe during the process of manufacture and ship the threaded pipe in bulk. Where the pipe is of large size, such as is used for drilling wells and the like, the Weight -of the pipe lengths is considerable. Where a large number of such pipes are piled in bulk either instock or in transit, diilculty `has been encountered in preserving the threads during collisions between the pipes. Because of the great weight imposed upon well pipe and the necessity foroccasionally coupling and uncoupling such pipes while in a well, small imperfections in the threads constitute a serious objection to the use of such pipe after its arrival in the field. According# ly, metal caps have heretofore been screwed over the threads of the pipes for protecting them.

As the freight rates on finished pipes are rather high, the additional Weight of metal l therein.

caps has contributed materially to the cost of transporting such pipe, particularly in the larger sizes. vThreading protectors onto the pipe ends has involved additional time and expense in the manufacture of such pipes. Thread protectors, as heretofore made, which are easily placed on the pipe threads, are liable to fall off during transportation. y

We provide a thread protector having a body of resilient material such as rubber, rubber composition and the like, having a resilient metal reinforcing member embedded The faces of the protector are provided with incomplete or stub threads for engaging the threads on the pipe. Our protector is sufficiently flexible to permit its berubber composition.

ing driven over theends of the pipe, as dis-y tinguished from being screwed thereon for seating the stub threads in the pipe threads.

At the same time it is sufficiently rigid to preouter` to the inner surface of the protector l and by providing an outturned or inturned flange for engaging the pipe end, respectively.

The accompan ing drawings illustrate a present preferre embodiment of the invention, in which Fig. 1 is a transverse sectional .viewl of a thread protector embodying our invention; Fig. 2 is a transverse sectlonal view of the protector applied to an externally threaded Plpe; f

Fig. 3 is a plan Avieyv, partially in section, of the reinforcement for the pipe protector; Fig. 4 is an elevational view, partially in section, of the reinforcement shown in Fig. 3 Fig. 5 is a'transverse sectional view of a thread lprotector applied to an internally threaded pipe; and' Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view of the reinforcement for the thread protector shown in Fig. 5. Y

Referring to Figs. 1 lto 4, inclusive, the pipe thread protector is constituted by a body 4 of resilient material having a metallic reinforcing member 5 embedded therein. One

form of resilient "material 4'is rubber or a rubber composition, although it is to be understood that other types of resilient material may be substituted for the rubber or the stubthreads 6 slip past threads 8 on the pipe l7 and come to rest between certain of them. The stub threads 6 are disposed at a distance from the end of the thread protector encircling the pi L in order that blows de.- livered to the env s of the thread protectors,

y such as are incident to the parallel movement tend to loosen t em and pus of pi s in transit, produce a compressive effect in the pipe thread protector before the blows are transmitted to the threads.l This construction reduces the tendency for threads to become dislod ed by reason of longitudinal blows. Where t ethreads are disposed near the end of the rotector lon 'tudinal blows the protector olf the pipe. To remove the protector, it is turned to unscrew the stub threads 6 from enga ment with the pipe threads 8.

rotection from blows to the pipe threads 8 is obtained by reason of the resilient nature b of the composition 4. The force of a blow delivered to the outer surface of the protector 2 is partly dissi ated by compressing the material 4 rather t an by transmitting the blowdirectly to the threads 8. Additional protection and rigidity is imparted to the composition 4 by the reinforcing member 5. The reinforcing member is in the form of a metallic cylinder having a side wall 9 provided with perforations 10 and slits 11. Bonds between the composition 4 on the external and internal surfaces 'of vthe :reinforcing member- 45 are formed by the portions of the material of the composition 4 extending through the openings 10 and slots 9'. Resiliency of the reinforcing member 5 is secured by the presence of the slits 11. Y

The sheet'metalbetween the slits constitutes independently movable fingers which form a yielding expansible skirt which permits the protector to ad'ust itself to the size of the threaded end o the pipe when the protector is driven onto the pipe end.

Protection to the outer end of the pi e is secured by a flange 12 formed on the rein orcing member 5 and extending inwardly and beyond the end 14 of the' pipe 7. Flange 12 is embedded in the composition 4.

' Referring to Figs. 5 and 6, a modified form of protector 2 is applicable lto internally threaded pipe by providing stub teeth 6 on the outer surface thereof; A flan pipe. The construction of this modification rmit the threads 12 extends outwardly beyond the end 14' of the -of our invention is otherwise the same as that shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive.

While we have illustrated and described the present preferred modifications of our invention, it will be understood that it may be otherwise embodied or racticed within the scope of the following c aims.

We claim: 1. A thread protector comprising a body portion of resilient material, threads formed ,on a surface of the body portion, and a cir-l cumferentially extending reinforcing member having slits formed therein embedded in the body portion with. portions of the body p'ortion disposed on both sides of the reinforcing member.

2. A thread protector comprising a body portion of resilient material, threads formed lon a surface of the body portion, and a reinforcing member havin independently movable sections embedde in the 4body portion with lportions of the body portion disposed on both sides of the reinforcin member.

3. A threadprotector comprisin a body portion of rubber-like material, a t read engaging surface on the body portion, and a reinforcing member having einde endently movable sections embedded .in the ody portion with portions of the body portion disposed on both' sides of the reinforcing mem- 4. A thread protector comprising a body portion of resilient rubber-like material, a.

thread engaging surface on the body portion, anda circumferentially extending reinforcingmember having holes formed therein and slit so as to form inde endently movableA secvtions embeddedin the ody portionl with portions'of the body portion dis osed on both sides of the reinforcing mem er, said ortons being bonded through theholes an the s its.

' 5 A thread protector comprisin portion of rubber-like material an a cylindrical reinforcin and stiffening frame embedded in the bo y portion having a flange at one end adapted to overlie the end of the member to be protected and having slits'extending inwardly from its other end to form independently movable fingers, portions of the body portion being disposed on both sides of a flange at one end adapted to overlie'the en of the member to be protected and having ion V la body A i'io slits extending inwardly from its4 other end to form independently movable fingers and a rubber-like cushion enclosing the -reinforcing shell on both-sides thereof.

7. A thread protector comprising a sheet metal reinforcing and -stiffening shell lhavin a flange at one end adapted to overlie the en of the memberto be rotected and havin slits extending inwardly from its other en to form 'independently movable lingers and a rubber-like cushion enclosing the reinforcing shellon both sides thereof, whereb the rubber-like cushion on the outside ofY the rotector cushions external shocks, the eet metal reinforcing and sti'enin'g shell distributes said shocks and the inside of the rubberlike cushion further cushions said distributed shocks.

. ingl en 8. A thread protector comprising a sheet vmaterial reinforcing and stiifening shell having a' flange at one end adapted to overlie the end of the member to be protected and havslits extending inwardly from its other* to form independently movable fingers and a'rubber-like cushion enclosin thereinforcing shell on both sides thereo the rtions of the cushion on opposite sides o the sheetbein bonded together through the slits, whereby t e rubber-like cushion len the outside of the protector cushions external shocks,

the sheet metal reinforcing .and stifen'i-ng shell distributes saidshocks and the inside of the rubber-like lcushion further cushions said distributed shocks.

9. A thread protector comprising a generally cylindrical body portion of ru ber-like materiaL'a thread engaging surface on the -body portion, and a generally c lindrical sheet metal reinforcing member em dded in the bod portion with portions of the rubberlike bod' portion disposed on both sides of the rein orcing member, a part of the reinforcing member constituting a-yie'ld' skirt which adjusts itself to the size of the readed end of the article to be protected when the protector is applied thereto.

10. A protector for the ends of tubes and the like, comprisin a generally cylindrical body portionl of ru ber-like material, and a generally cylindrical metallic reinfo Y member embedded in the body. portion,

' portions of the body portion disposed onboth the like, comprisin Vber being sides of the reinforcing member, said rein- .forcing member being yieldable to permit the protector to adjust itself to the size of the ends of tubes and the like to'be protected. 11. A protector for the ends of tubes and a nerally' cylindrical body portion of ru ber- 'ke material, and a generally cylindrical reinforcing' member 5 embedded in the bod of the body portion isposedl on both sides of" the reinforcing member, the reinfol'cmemslitsoastoformanexpansib eskirt at one end thereof. -V

A thread protector comp"` asheet metal reinforcin and stifening hvm` a cylindrical skirt adapted to surround an overlie the threads to be protected and the end of the shell beyond the 'skirt bent inwardly to extend over the end of the mem- Y ber to be protected, and a cushion of soft yieldable rubber-like material both the skid: and Bange portions of the sheet portion with lio 

